It’s been 12 (we know) years since Desperate Housewives appeared on a screen, creating a new type of soap opera – drama – satire hybrid, with some mystery thrown in (why not), and becoming an instant hit. The show, which followed along the lives of a group of women and their families over the span of 13 years – so, as you can imagine, the cast has changed a lot during the show’s 8 seasons, anyway. But, since it’s been past a decade since we said goodbye to the residents of Wisteria Lane, we thought we are past due, and decided to give them a visit. Just like with any cast on any show 10 or 12 years onward, some have gone on to do bigger things and become household names (Eva Longoria?) and some… well, we haven’t seem them in a while. Either way, however, the show was groundbreaking, in that it combined an element of satire and self-referential humor (both a nod and a defiance to the already satiric Stepford Wives, which gave producer Marc Cherry the idea for the show).
Also, it gave way to the unforgettable (like it or hate it – they were unforgettable) reality TV series franchise Real Desperate Housewives (of OG, Atlanta, Dallas, Miami, and many more – including numerous international installations!), which, in a move that, well, kind of missed the fictional show’s point, followed along actual housewives of wealthy husbands and documented (or scripted?) their lives. Desperate Housewives won immense critical acclaim for its subtle writing, strong production value, original scripting (the show is told in a nonlinear fashion, showing events from 2004-2008 and then 2013-2017, with flashbacks to the 80s and 90s) and powerful acting. It has won multiple Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG awards, individually to the actresses who made up the cast and to the producers, directors, and writers, as well as to the show as a whole. Desperate Housewives was a mainstay in our lives for 8 seasons. Maybe people became addicted to the show’s unique mystery-parody style and wouldn’t miss an episode. And considering Netflix binging didn’t even exist then, the fact it kept its audience so riveted for so long is pretty amazing. Also, and very importantly, the show was led by an all-female cast, showcasing complex, layered and intense characters of women, which is still a rarity on television. For this and all it was, let’s take a look at what some of the stars of the show are doing (and how they are looking) 12 years after the season finale.
[post_page_title]Teri Hatcher as Susan Mayer[/post_page_title]
Teri Hatcher portrayed Susan Mayer, the “girl next door” type – but with a dark twist. Mary Alice young, who narrated the show (and appeared in its finale) said about her that it was known that wherever she goes, bad luck follows – “Her misfortunes ranged from the commonplace, to the unusual, to the truly bizarre.” Susan goes through life yearning for as much drama as possible (and was confronted by a few characters for it). Her daughter Julie is often the parental one in the relationship.
